F-250 Super Duty or F-150??

[motion]

OK all you tow-meisters. I'm in the market for a new Ford. I don't tow heavy loads - only 600 pound motorcycles in the bed, or Waverunners on a light trailer. Most of my driving is highway with some passes. Main concerns are comfortable ride and good hwy gas mileage. I want 4x4 because eventually, the truck will be my ranch beater in Montana.

Is the 250 6.0 diesel overkill? I've ruled out the V-10 due to potential for poor gas mileage. My current '93 F-150 gets 15mpg hwy unloaded. I don't want to go downhill from there. The F-150 gets 19mpg highway. That's not too bad.

Is the extra $5k or so I'd spend for the F-250/6.0 diesel worth it, given my situation? They sure do sound good, and the mileage potential and longivity is a plus.

[tabs]

I own 98 F150 wt 4.6L V8.....Maybe go with the F150 with 5.4L...a little more umphhhh with a small decrease in mileage. Friend has Excurson with Diesel...that wiil pull stumps...it has plenty of get up and go, especially on the highway. It is a bit noisy around town, but on the highway is quiet. He love it, as I do my F150.

Ultimately is the extra torque worth the extra money?

[TimT]

get the F250 with the Powerstroke... you wont be disappointed...

I get 20MPG highway...16-17 around town...

When I tow my racecar (total towing weight about 5000lbs) I hardly even notice the trailer, and still get about 17MPG...

The ride of the F250 is great except on the worst roads.

Diesel was significantly cheaper than gas in my area until recently... now the oil companies are ****ing us all..

also the extra $6000 for the Powerstroke option only costs about
$3/day

[vash]

personally, if i was in the market for a diesel truck, i would go with the chevy duramax. that damn thing runs like a gas motor and is the quietest of the bunch. i love the powerstroke, but having a duramax in the family made me change my mind. our powerstroke got better fuel mileage. i swear we got 22 once towing a bassboat to phoenix, doing 80mph most of the time. the best the chev has done is 20. but everytime i see that new dodge 3/4 ton, the shortbed one with the halfdoors, the size blows me away. i bet it isnt much bigger than a half ton. but those cummins diesels, are my rancher buddies' choice of motor hands down. breaks my heart when my tiny chevy S10 ZR2 get 16mph on the freeway. not a good purchase.

[Jay Auskin]

I say the Powerstroke is the way to go...then again, I work for International Truck & Engine Corp., and designed a bunch of parts on it.

...I guess I'm biased...????

[greglepore]

Well, I drove both last year, before I decided just to keep my truck. My take is that the diesel is a better vehicle if a) you tow big stuff and b) the limited range of the standard V8 is an annoyance. If you do the math, the fuel savings on the diesel don't pay for themselves until you go out almost 100k. The big difference is for the guys who roll on down the highway-there, the big tank plus the mileage bump translates into serious range, and in cruise mode you don't notice the clatter. In traffic, well, the clatter is a factor, unless you grew up in a KW cab.

[johnco]

I just retired my 86 f350 diesel with 399,998 miles. it still runs great. I spent maybe $3-3500 maintenance in 8 years. this includes 3 trans rebuilds, 1 head change and 4 starters. I now have a 96 f350 dually with 196,000 miles and get 16-18 mpg. the only expense is oil and filter changes after changing the hp fuel pump when I first got it less than a year 30,000 miles ago . it's nothing to carry around 4-5000 lbs in the bed on a daily basis, no problem. I wouldn't trade my diesel for anything other than a newer one.

ahhh, buy a Silverado?

[elwood-914]

Towing? Durablity? Longevity? Fuel Consuption? GO with the Diesel, in the long run I think you will be much happier.

[Bill Douglas]

You are moving to Montana?

[TimT]

They have menal toss flycoons in Montana

or is that dental floss tycoons..

If you do the math, the fuel savings on the diesel don't pay for themselves until you go out almost 100k.

My F250 diesel is and has been cheaper to run than my Ex-Explorer..

the Explorer got 15mpg on a good day...When I towed with it I was down arounf 7-9mpg... And towing 5000lbs+ with an explorer lets the tail wag the dog..



I used to fill the explorer 3X a week at 35 or so per filling...

My F250 I fill every 8th day.. @ $50...

Diesel tow vehicles and fast Porsches.... I like it

[speeder]

I agree w/ all of you guys that diesel is the only way to go if you tow or carry heavy loads, but since Richard is only carrying around a MC I would get the new F-150 w/ the 5.4 gas V-8. I love those things, I'd rather have that for a daily driver than just about any car.

[84porsche]

Get the Cayenne - see if it can tow - honestly though take a look at used Land Rovers or Jeeps - they do just as much towing and are nicer looking in my opinion.

[Eric 951]

I am going to buck the trend here and say get the F150. For what you are towing, it will be more than sufficent. I only say this because of the ride quality. The 250 Super Duty has a stiffer ride because of all the HD components--I recently gave up my 95 F250 4X4 ext cab with a 351 and 240K miles for a 99 F250SD 4X4 ext cab with the Powerstroke with 190K miles--the ride is much harsher, even over the "standard" F250. I would have to say the F150 being totally redesigned provides a more comfortable ride--definately has the payload to tow, and you can put duals on it to get that nice throaty V8 rumble(that is what I miss the most with the Diesel).

[turbo6bar]

F150 wins hands down for ride. If the F250 rides like the Dodge 2500 Cummins, it will be rough unloaded. The F250 wins in other categories though, and it would make a good ranch truck.
jürgen

[Rot 911]

I agree with the F150 guys. The 250 is overkill for you. The V8 options in the F150 provide more than enough power and you have plenty of towing capacity, without the rough ride the 250 will give you.

[motion]

I think you guys are right... it'll be the F-150. The 250 would only serve to feed my ego (small penis syndrome).

I test drove an '04 F-150 last night and it was nice. The 5.4l V8 has decent power. Ride is very smooth. Interior is luxury-car quality. Now just have to find a good deal on one.

[Dantilla]

I still haven't driven a diesel that has decent throttle response. I'm happy with my Chevy. 6 L gas engine with the 4.10 gears.

[Big Ed]

You said "Powerstroke." Huh huh, huh huh huh huh.

[turbo6bar]

Originally posted by Dantilla
I still haven't driven a diesel that has decent throttle response. I'm happy with my Chevy. 6 L gas engine with the 4.10 gears.

Throttle response in a truck???

Diesels are about pulling *****loads of weight without breaking a sweat, not posing at the stoplights grand prix...